Get organized. It’s one of the most common New Year’s resolutions each year. While we all strive to start each year organized, and fail more often than not, it’s really a great goal to have.
Getting organized, at least for the stitching segment of our lives, extends beyond just the stuff. Ravelry is a wonderful site that is often under-utilized as an organizational tool (or really toolbox). Here are just some of my favorite methods of using different Ravelry features that will help you keep all of your fibre crafting under control.
My Notebook:
I make a project page for every project. While it’s a great way for other people to get info on your needle size and yarn used so they can plan, it also helps you keep track of what you’ve made. It’s also a great way to keep track of any notes on the pattern that can be really useful when planning future projects. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve check project pages for the needle size I used with a particular yarn simply because I forgot. If you upload finished object photos, your notebook also serves as a great visual index of all the things you’ve made this year.
My Stash:
I also make a stash page for every yarn. While many people are ashamed to see how much yarn they own (I get that way sometimes too…), the benefits far outweigh any downsides. I can easily search my stash for a particular weight and color when planning a project, which is much easier than dragging out my bins (yep…more than one) and multiple skeins of yarn to find just the right one. While it does take some time to create stash pages and photograph yarn, it’s very easy to do after every shopping trip rather than once in a blue moon.
My Queue:
I queue a lot, so this is one of my favorite planning features. Ravelry it lets me either put in what yarn I’d like to get for that project or link it back to a yarn already in my stash. When I’m planning for other projects, I can easily see if a yarn is already earmarked for a different project. I can also reorder my queue as needed to reflect the projects I’m most interested in making in the near future.
Needles and Hooks:
I will say that I don’t use this feature in my notebook enough, but this is a great chart that lets you track all of the needles and hooks you own. You can easily leave notes on the brand, length or color of each set of needles or the hook so that you can find them when needed. It’s also great to check when planning new projects to see if a particular needle size needs to go on your shopping list.
Learn More about Organizing:
Any yarnista is happy to pull up your customer record to see if you’ve ever bought a particular needle size or yarn in the past so that you aren’t (or are!) creating duplicates in your stash. If you are interested in a class to better understand and utilize Ravelry to its greatest potential, check out the Ravelry 101 class on Sunday, February 28th.
While all of this virtual organizing is great, still don’t forget about being physically organized. The system that works best for you is most likely unique to you, but definitely check out this Yarnista Files post from last summer and search threads on Ravelry for ideas. Having your crafting life organized makes everything just a little easier. Be sure to share your favorite tip for getting organized below!